Definition

Convergence
and divergence
Given a series
Comparison ∞
test and
X
quotient test an = a1 + a2 + . . . + an + . . .
n=1

Consider the n−th partial sum Sn = a1 + a2 + . . . + an .

∞
P
lim Sn = S, the series an converges, and its sum is S.
n→∞ n=1
∞
P
If there does not exist lim Sn , the series an diverges.
n→∞ n=1
 Ex. 1.

∞
1 1 X 1
+ + ... = .
Convergence
3.7 7.11 n=1
(4n − 1)(4n + 3)
and divergence

Comparison
test and
We have
quotient test 1 1 1
Sn = + + ... +
3.7 7.11 (4n − 1)(4n + 3)
 
1 7 − 3 11 − 7 (4n + 3) − (4n − 1)
= + + ... +
4 3.7 7.11 (4n − 1)(4n + 3)
 
1 1 1 1 1 1 1
= − + − + ... + −
4 3 7 7 11 4n − 1 4n + 3
 
1 1 1
= − .
4 3 4n + 3
.  
1 1 1 1
lim Sn = lim − = 12 , the series is convergent and
n→∞ n→∞ 4 3 4n+3
1
its sum is 12 .
 Ex. 4.

 2  3 ∞  n
3 3 3 X 3
+ + + ... = .
Convergence 2 2 2 2
and divergence n=1
Comparison
test and
quotient test
We have
 2  3  n
3 3 3 3
Sn = + + + ... +
2 2 2 2
 2  3  n  n+1
3 3 3 3 3
Sn = + + ... + +
2 2 2 2 2
 n+1  n+1
1 3 3 3
⇒ Sn = − ⇒ Sn = 2 − 3.
2 2 2 2
h i
3 n+1


lim Sn = lim 2 2 − 3 = ∞, the series is
n→∞ n→∞
divergent.
 Practice – Homework

Exercise
Test for convergence and find the sum (if exists):
Convergence
and divergence 1 1 1
1 + + + ...
Comparison
test and
1.3 3.5 5.7
quotient test P∞
2 (sin (n + 1) − sin n)
n=1
∞
 
P 1
3 ln 1 +
n=1 n
P∞ (−1) n−1 .3n
4
n=1 10n+2
∞
 
P 9 2
5
n
− n
n=1 10 5
∞ a
aq n =
P
Recall: , |q| < 1.
n=0 1−q
 Ex. 3.

Exercise
P P
If un and vn converges to A and B, respectively, prove
Convergence
and divergence n≥1P n≥1
Comparison
that (un + vn ) converges to A + B.
test and n≥1
quotient test

Consider the sequences of partial sums of these series

Sn = u1 + u2 + . . . + un .
Tn = v1 + v2 + . . . + vn .
Rn = (u1 + v1 ) + (u2 + v2 ) + . . . + (un + vn ).
It is obvious that Sn + Tn = Rn .
We have A = lim Sn , B = lim Tn .
n→∞ n→∞
Therefore, lim Rn = lim (Sn + Tn ) = A + B,
n→∞ n→∞ P
which means that the series (un + vn ) converges to A + B.
n≥1
 Recall: Comparison test and quotient test

Theorem
Assume all n ≥ N.
0 < an < bn for P
Convergence P
and divergence If P bn converges, thenP an converges.
Comparison If an diverges, then bn diverges.
test and
quotient test

Theorem
an
Assume: 0 < an , bn , lim = k.
n→∞ bn P P
If 0 < k < ∞, then the series an , bn either both converge
or both diverge.
P P
If k = 0 and Pbn converges, then P an converges.
If k = ∞ and bn diverges, then an diverges.

Special series
P n
aq (a 6= 0) converges iff |q| < 1.
P 1
converges iff p > 1.
np
 Ex. 6. Test for convergence

∞
P n
Convergence b) 2−3
.
and divergence n=1 4n
1 P 1
Comparison 0 < 4n2n−3 ∼ 4n as n → ∞. 4n diverges, so the given series
test and
quotient test also diverges.
P∞ n+2
c) √ .
n=1 (n + 1) n + 3
= √1n as n → ∞.
n+2 n P 1
0 < (n+1) √
n+3
∼ n√ n
√ diverges, so the
n
given series also diverges.
P∞ 2n − 1
f) 4 .
n=1 (3n + 2)n 3
0 < 2n−1 4 ∼ 2n 4 = 2 4 as n → ∞.
P 2
4 converges, so
(3n+2)n 3 3n.n 3 3n 3 3n 3
the given series also converges.
 Ex.7b.

Fact ln nr<< nα << an as n → ∞, where α > 0, a > 1.

P n − ln n
Convergence 7b) 2 + 10n3
.
and divergence
n≥1 n
Comparison
r r
test and n − ln n n 1
quotient test As n → ∞: 2 3
∼ 3
= √ .
P 1 n + 10n 10n n 10
√
n 10
diverges, so the given series also diverges.

Exercise √
P n2 + 2 − n
Test for convergence √
4
.
n
√
n2 + 2 − n 2 1
We have √
4
= √ √ ∼ √ as
n 4 2
n( n + 2 + n) n4n
P→ 1∞.
n
√ converges, hence, the given series converges.
n4n
 Ex.10. Test for convergence

P (ln n)2
a) .
Convergence
and divergence
n2 2 (ln n)2
Comparison
Set an = (lnnn) √1 an
2 , bn = n n . lim bn = lim
√
n
= 0.
n→∞ n→∞
test and P 1
quotient test Moreover, 3 converges, thereofre, the given series also
n2
converges.
1
Remark: we can use an arbitrary bn = γ , γ ∈ (1, 2).
n
P 3 + sin n
c) .
n(1 + e −n )
3+sin n 2 2 2
We have n(1+e −n ) ≥ n(1+e −n ) for all n; n(1+e −n ) ∼ n as n → ∞.
P2
Moreover, n converges, the given series also converges.
P 3 + sin n
FAQ: Test for convergence .
n2 (1 + e −n )
 Recall: equivalent pairs of infinitesimals

Convergence sin x ∼ tan x ∼ arcsin x ∼ arctan x ∼ x

and divergence x
Comparison
As x → 0 e − 1 ∼ x ∼ 2ln(1 + x)
test and x
quotient test 1 − cos x ∼
Pp 2
b) n arctan(1/n3 ).
p n≥1
n arctan(1/n3 ) > 0. As n → ∞, n13 → 0,
r
1 1
q
n arctan(1/n3 ) ∼ n. 3 = .
n n
P1
Moreover, n diverges, hence, the given series also diverges.
Convergence
and divergence

n sin2 (1/n).
P
Comparison
test and
d)
quotient test n≥1
1
n sin2 (1/n) > 0. As n → ∞, n → 0,

1 1
n sin2 (1/n) ∼ n. 2
= .
n n
P1
Moreover, n diverges, hence, the given series also diverges.
 Further technique: Finite expansion

Convergence
Exercise
∞
 
and divergence P 1 1

Comparison
Test for convergence: √ − ln 1 + √ .
test and n=1 n n
quotient test
x2
Recall: Finite expansion ln(1 + x) = x − + o(x 2 ) as x → 0.
2
1
As n → ∞, √ → 0, we have :
n
1 1
1
√ − ln 1 + √ ∼ .
n n 2n
P 1
diverges, so the given series also diverges.
2n
 Practice

Exercise
Convergence
and divergence
Test for convergence
Comparison √ ∞ ln n
test and P∞ n2 + n + 1 P
quotient test 1 √ 6
2
n=1 √n
2 n+2 n=2 n
∞
√
n+2− n ∞ 2
P
2 P
n=1 2n + 1 7
∞ n=1 ln(2n + 1)
P 1
3 ln 1 +
n ∞
 
n=1 √ P 1 1
∞ ne −1 8 √ − sin √
4
P
n=1 n n
n=1 n
∞ ∞ 4 + cos n
arcsin(2−n )
P P
5 9
n=2 n=1 + e −n )
n2 (1
 Ex.11.

1 Assume the contrary, lim nun = a 6= 0, then a > 0.

Convergence n→∞
and divergence a
We can write un ∼ as n → ∞. It is a contradiction as
Comparison n P1
test and
P
quotient test un is convergent, but is divergent.
P 1n
2 Test for convergence 1+ 1
.
n n
By the previous remark,
1 1
lim n. = lim √ = 1 6= 0.
n→∞ 1+ n1 n→∞ n n
n
Hence, the series is divergent.
3 It does not contradict the statement about the
convergence of p−series, as the exponent depends on n.